April 22, 2006

Box Score

Detroit, Mich. - Timely hitting in the later innings propelled the #12-ranked Grand Valley State baseball team to a sweep of Wayne State Saturday afternoon in Detroit, Mich. The Lakers scored seven runs in the final two innings of game one to claim a 9-3 decision. The late inning hits piled up in the second game as GVSU scored four runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to earn a 5-4 win in game two. Grand Valley improves to 33-8 on the season and 17-3 in the GLIAC, while Wayne State falls to 15-28 overall and 13-11 in GLIAC play. The Lakers and Warriors will finish their series tomorrow beginning at 1 pm.

Grand Valley put two early runs on the board in game one as CF Jeff Carrero doubled to lead off the game and moved to third as 2B Lee VanStreain singled to left field. C Nick Smith came up with the big hit with one out in the inning, driving a double to left field to clear the bases and give the Lakers a 2-0 lead. Starter Jeff Sinicki cruised through the first two innings setting the Warriors down in order. Wayne State pushed one run across the plate in the third on a pair of extra base hits. C Matt Cunningham tripled to center and scored on a RBI double down the right field line by SS Jason Chapieski.

The Warriors knotted the game at two in the fifth inning executing a risky squeeze play with two outs. After Wayne State tied the game in the fifth, Smith decided to take matters into his own hands. WSU tried to play the matchups and replaced starter Kyle Hill with the left-handed reliever, Dane Little to face the left-handed swining catcher. Smith made the Warriors regret the decision by driving an 0-1 pitch out of the park for his 10th home run of the year to give Grand Valley a 3-2 lead. Sinicki allowed a two out double to Adwin Springer but was able to force a fly out to end the sixth and give the Laker offense a chance to add some runs. GVSU took advantage of the opportunity and added six insurance runs in the top half of the seventh. LF Nate Secor led things off with a single to center field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by SS Dan Skirka. After 3B Aaron Melucci walked, Carrero reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases for VanStreain. The junior ripped an 0-2 pitch for a RBI single to left field. RF Nick Sandy followed by clearing the bases with a double to left center to give the Lakers a 7-2 lead. Smith stepped to the plate for the second consecutive inning and came up with a RBI single through the right side. Secor came to the plate for the second time in the inning and ended the scoring, driving in Smith from second with a single to right field. The Warriors added a solo home run to lead off the seventh but it would not be enough as Sinicki closed out the game to earn his fifth win of the season.

Game two started with the Warriors putting four runs on the board before the fourth inning began using a big third inning. Springer tripled in the Warriors' second inning and scored on a RBI groundout to take the early lead. Starter Nate McCrory found himself in trouble again in the following inning despite striking out the first two batters he faced. A single and back-to-back-to-back doubles by the Warriors signaled the end for McCrory. Reliever Vince Rizzi entered the game and was able to get the final out of the inning, but not before Wayne State took a 4-0 lead.

The Lakers had opportunities in the early innings as they put runners on the corners in the first as 2B Spud McKenzie and Smith singled but Sandy popped out to the shortstop to end the threat. Skirka doubled in the second inning with two outs but was stranded. The Lakers answered WSU's three run third inning by producing a run of their own in the fifth. Skirka led off by ripping his second double of the game, he was followed by Secor who walked but was cut down at second on a fielder's choice hit by VanStreain. After McKenzie was hit by a pitch, Smith worked a full count and drew the bases loaded walk to score Grand Valley's first run of the contest. The Lakers were unable to get anything going as they were set down in order in the sixth.

Things looked bleak in the top of the seventh as Secor flew out to left field and Carrero grounded out to first base to start the inning. VanStreain found himself with a full count, one strike away from ending the game, and drove a pitch to left field for a double. McKenzie cut the lead to one (4-3) by hitting his fourth home run of the season to right field. Smith kept the rally going tallying his third hit of the game, a double down the left field line. Sandy followed with a single to second base to put runners on the corners. After a Warrior pitching change, 1B Casey Robrahn stepped to the plate and hit a single through the right side to tie the game at four. DH Brandon Bard followed and hit a ball that was misplayed by the second baseman that would have ended the inning but instead loaded the bases for Skirka. The patient Skirka watched four balls go by to force in the go ahead run for the Lakers.

Rizzi came out for the seventh inning and continued his impressive performance setting the Warriors down in order to cap off the amazing comeback. Rizzi threw 4.1 innings allowing just one hit and striking out four. The double-play duo of Skirka and McKenzie went a combined 4-6 in game two with two runs scored and three RBI. The game-tying RBI single by Robrahn in the seventh extended his hit streak to 21, after going 3-4 in game one.

Smith went a perfect 7-7 from the plate on the day with three runs scored, five RBI, a pair of doubles, and a solo home run. Smith upped his average by 36 points and now sits at .427 for the year. The Lakers have three hitters owning an average above .400 (VanStreain, .441; Smith, .427; Robrahn, .410) and are hitting .349 as a team this season.

The Lakers now own a two game lead over Ashland (34-10, 15-5) and Mercyhurst (29-11, 15-5) in the GLIAC with a 17-3 league mark and will finish off their series against Wayne State tomorrow with another doubleheader beginning at 12 pm ET.